Mohamed Salah wants Senegal to become the AFCON champions after Sadio Mane

The Africa Cup of Nations begins this Saturday in Ivory Coast, with the host nation and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, among the top contenders to succeed Senegal as continental champions. The 24-team tournament, concluding with the final on February 11, marks the first time in four decades that Ivory Coast has hosted the event, with the last occurrence being in 1984 when Roger Milla’s Cameroon emerged victorious with just eight participating nations.

Senegal, the defending champions from the 2022 edition in Cameroon, face strong competition from teams like Morocco and Nigeria, featuring Victor Osimhen, the African footballer of the year. The tournament kicks off with the Group A match between the hosts and Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, located on the outskirts of Abidjan, the economic capital. The 60,000-seat stadium was originally intended for a June-July schedule last year to avoid conflicting with the European season but was rescheduled to January and February due to concerns about the rainy season.

The matches will be spread across six stadiums, including two venues in Abidjan, with the final taking place at Ebimpe. Other host cities include Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro on the coast, and Korhogo in the north near the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso.

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This is the first AFCON to take place in West Africa since Ghana in 2008, and the Ivorian government has invested $1.5 billion.

In his New Year’s speech, President Ouattara urged everyone to “lead the mobilization to make this AFCON a great celebration of youth, Ivorian hospitality, and African brotherhood.”

The catastrophe that overshadowed the most recent AFCON in Cameroon, where eight people died in a crush and stampede outside Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium, is one that the authorities would be trying to prevent.

The locals are also hopeful that the Elephants, their team, can win a third championship and go all the way.

Mane and Salah are prepared for a competitive tournament. A prominent figure in Senegal’s squad is Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, often seen on billboards in Abidjan. Senegal, aiming to defend their title, will heavily rely on Mane, the former Liverpool forward now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Mane, 31, acknowledges the formidable competition, stating, “I cannot recall a stronger field. All the giants are going to be in Ivory Coast, and all of them will be plotting to dethrone us.”

In Group C with Cameroon, Gambia, and Guinea, Senegal faces tough competition, including Serhou Guirassy’s Guinea, known for his prolific performances in the German Bundesliga with Stuttgart.

Egypt, led by Salah, aims for an eighth title, with hopes to erase the memories of defeats in the 2017 and 2022 finals. Despite Egyptian dreams, Liverpool fans hope Salah returns early for their English Premier League title pursuit. Egypt is expected to progress from a group that includes Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

Morocco, the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, aspires to fulfill expectations. Coach Walid Regragui aims for at least a semi-final berth. In Group F with DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania, Morocco’s key player is Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back and 2023 African footballer of the year runner-up to Osimhen.

Nigeria, relying on Napoli striker Osimhen, hopes to make a significant impact, despite the setback of losing Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface to injury. Placed in Group A with the hosts, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles aim for success.

Algeria, the 2019 champions, are in Group D with Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola. South Africa returns after missing the last edition, relying on players from Mamelodi Sundowns. In Group E with Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia, they seek a strong campaign.